African American Heritage Day Parade pleases crowd, honors Mosley

WORKING THE CROWD—Members of the incomparable Obama Academy Marching Band get the crowd going during the Oct. 5 African American Heritage Day Parade. (Photos by Rossano Paul Stewart)

Though the morning started damp and gray, by the time Ebenezer Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Vincent K. Campbell gave the invocation, the sun was shining on the crowd and participants of the annual African American Heritage Day Parade.

“The rain stopped, the sky opened and the people came out,” said parade Chair Doris Carson Williams,” It was a great parade, and really showed off the pride and aspirations of many groups and young people. And the Masons; there must have been 75 of them, all led by the Most Worthy Grand Matron. That’s the largest contingent since Harvey Adams was chair. So that was really nice.”

The other highlight, Williams said, was honoring world renowned sculptor and Pittsburgh native Thaddeus “Thad” Mosley, who at 87, served as parade Grand Marshal.

“He had a great time,” she said. “He received proclamations from (Pittsburgh Councilman) Danny Lavelle and (Allegheny County Executive) Rich Fitzgerald. They presented him with a beautiful crystal plaque. We wanted to thank him for his lifetime of work. It’s been a while since anyone has and that’s the point I wanted to make.”

AIN’T IT GRAND—African American Heritage Day Parade Grand Marshal sculptor Thaddeus Mosley receives a proclamation presented by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and American Urban Radio Networks Manager Ty Miller.

In addition to Mosley, the dignitaries and the members of the Prince Hall Masons of Grand Lodge #7 and the Most Worshipful Hiram Grand Lodge AF & AM, parade participants included personnel from the Pittsburgh Bureaus of Police and Bureaus of Fire, Allegheny County Police and Mounted Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

They were joined by Miss Ebony Teen Taylor Whitley and Miss Ebony Princess Amaris Martin. Also marching were representatives from multiple faith and community groups, sponsoring organizations, marching bands, drum corps and social clubs.